Pad for toy train tracks



Aug. 7', 3934. c. s. SATTERTHWAIT 9597279 PAD FOR TOY TRAIN TRACKS Filed Deo. 2, 1933 Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED STATES y l1,sus9,.z79

PATENT OFFICE It is well known to those familiar with they art and to possessors of toy. trains in general, that. the rapid movement of the train upon the tracks causes these tracks, or rather the metal supports or ties upon which the tracks are mounted, to vibrate u'ponany surface upon which they are placed. 'I'his vibrationcauses both abrasion of the surface and slipping of the tracks. Additionally, the metal supports coming into contact with the surface causes unpleasant noise. A further disadvantage of the toy train tracks as now constructed lies in the fact that the means for maintaining the track sections in connected relation comprises slip joints at adjacent ends of track sections, which slip joints after a brief period of use become loosened, permitting the track sections to separate as a 25. result of vibration.

An important object of this invention is the provision of an article of manufacture which may be readily applied over the normal cross tie or support for toy train tracks, and which when applied thereover will afford an anti-slipping support for the tie, and at the same time deaden. the sounds ordinarily resulting from operation of the train over the track, and which article likewise comprehends a means for connecting adjacent track sections to one another through such cross tie or supporting elements.

Cther objects of the invention are the production of a device of this character which may be cheaply and readily manufactured, which 4 0 will be durable in service, and which` is readily applied.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein'for the purpose of illustration, I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention,

and wherein Figure 1. is av longitudinal sectional view through adjoining track units showing av connecting pad for use inl connection therewith;

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view through an intermediate section of the track, showing a pad for use with an intermediate tie element; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the pads shown in Figs. 1 and 2, detached.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 10 generally designates the rail of a toy train track. having a head usually in the form ofA a hollow beadvindicated at'11. One end of this bead mounts a projecting tang 12 adapted to engage in the bead of the track 60 of an associated section and forms the sole means of connecting such sections to one another. The rails 10 are usually mounted on inverted channel-shapedcross tie elements indicated at 13 to which they are secured in any suitable man-'- 65 ner, the arms 14 of this cross tie element having out-turned seating iianges 15 adapted to rest upon the surface upon which the track is laid. There are usually three cross tie elements 13 on each track section, one being disposed adjacent 70 each end of the section and one at the center of the section. Therefore, when two sections are coupled together at the coupling,- two cross tie elements are arranged in close proximity to one another. The remaining or central cross tie elements are well spaced from any of the other tie elements.

In accordance with my invention I provide pads such as shown at 16 and 17 in Figs. 3 and. 4, these pads being formed of resilient rubber and each comprisinga base 18 and an upstanding marginal rim 19. The marginal rim. defines an opening which is of a length equal to the length of the cross tie elements. The type shown in Figs. 1 and 3 which is intended both as a cushioning and anti-skidding support and as a coupling for adjacent track sections has this opening of a width slightly less than the defines between the remote edges of the seating flanges 15 at opposite sides of cross tie elements 13 on adjacent ends of connected track sections. -By the term opening as here employed, the opening at the surface of the base element 18 is referred to, and 'preferably the marginal rim 18 at the longitudinal sides ofthe base element has its inner wall sloping inwardly and upwardly as indicated at 20,v so that when the padV is applied, the inner edges of the marginal rims will closely approximate the sides of the channel section of the tie element at their 100 upper ends.

When a pad of this type is applied to the tie elements at adjacent ends of connected track sections, due to the fact that-the denes be- 'tween the defining rim at the base is slightly 105 less than the denes between the remote edges of remote seating flanges of these elements, the pad will be placed under tension, and, accordingly, will take a slight curvature as indicated at 21 in Fig. 1. The tension not only causes this 110 curvature, but causes a constant resilient action, bringing the tracks into engagement with one another, so that a proper connection therebetween is constantly insured. The curvature itself causes the longitudinal side edges of the bottom of the base to come into contact with any flat surfaces on which the track is disposed, so that the weight of the track is concentrated upon these edges. The pad being of resilient'v rubber, and, therefore, of relatively high friction coefficient as compared with the metallic supports ordinarily employed, will of itself tend to prevent anyshifting of the track and concentration of the weight on line contacts by this curvature will accentuate the frictional engagement and render any movement by the relatively feeble vibrations set vup by the train passing thereover extremely unlikely. Furthermore, since the weight is concentrated on relatively restricted resilient surfaces of live rubber, the vibration is' in a large measure taken 'up by rthese surfaces with resultant lessening of any liability to movement and deadening of the sounds ordinarily attending operation. v

The form of pad shown at 17 in Figs. 2 and 4 is for use with intermediate cross tie elements and is made of slightly less width as regards its opening than the width of the cross tie element' at the outer edges of its seating flanges. The construction and operation of this element otherwise corresponds exactly to that set forth above except, of course, there is no coupling function.

Since the construction illustrated is capable of considerable modification without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invenof a toy train track, a soft" resilient base of friction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto except as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with the cross tie element of a toy train track, a soft resilient base of friction material underlying the tie element, and means for detachably connecting said base and the tie element.

2. In combination with the cross tie element 4. 'I'he combination with adjacent ends of connected toy train track sections and a tie element underlying and secured to each section, of a soft resilient pad of friction material underly ing both tie elements and having connection with said tie elements preventing separation thereof.

5. The combination with adjacent ends of connected toy train track sections and a tie element underlying and secured to each section, of a soft resilient pad of friction material underlying both tie elements and having connection with said tie elements preventing separation thereof, the under surface yof the pad being arched.

6. The combination with adjacent ends of connected toy train track sections anda tie element underlying and secured to each section, of

a soft resilient pad of friction material underlying both tie elements, and means at the sides of said pad engaging remote edges of said tie elements yieldably maintaining' the track sections in connected relation through resilience of the pads.

7. The combination with adjacent ends of connected toy train track sections and a tie element underlying and secured to each section, 'of a soft resilient pad of friction material under`- lying both tie elements having flanges at its side edges to engage the remote side edges of the tie elements, said anges being normally spaced apart a distance less than the distance between the side edges of the tie elements.

8. In combination with the cross tie element of a toy train track, a soit resilient base of friction material underlying the tie element,` and means for detachably connecting said base and the tie element comprising flanges having upwardly and inwardlyinclining inner faces.

9. In combination with the cross tie element of a toy train track, a soft resilient base of friction material underlying the tie element, and means for detachably connecting said base and the tie element comprising flanges at the sides of the pad adapted to engage `the side faces of the tie element.

l0. In combination with the cross tie element of a toy train track, a soft resilient,` base of friction material underlying the tie element, and means for detachably connecting said base and the tie element comprising flanges at the sides of the pad adapted to 'engage the side faces of the tie element, said anges being normally between the side edges of the tie element.

CHARLES S. BAT'IERTHWAIT.

spaced apart a distance less than the distance Patent No. 1,960,279 Granted August 7, 1934 CHARLES S. SATTERTHWAIT 'Hw above 0m itlwi [miem was vxlcmlvd .hum (3, 19.31, under the provisions of the Avr of .lune 3U, 1950. for fi yours :uid 234 day. from the expiration of the original term thereof. 

